The Proton X50 is undoubtedly the darling among Malaysians who want a medium sized SUV.

Over 140,000 X50’s have been sold since 2020, cementing its reputation as one of the go-to models for Malaysians.

The X50 has made quite a reputation for itself as a reliable, comfortable and easy to live with machine. An ideal partner for those who want just one car for their daily routine as well as to accommodate the needs of their family.

Building on this, Proton introduced the new X50 just a few months ago. It has several updates that arguably warrant the use of the word “all-new”, something that Proton has been harping on while some media outlets refuse to acknowledge.

The refusal stems from the fact that the underpinnings as well as some of the oily bits have been carried over from the previous X50.

However, I feel that Proton is entirely justified to use that word because the latest X50 is not just a facelift, but it offers an entirely new interior, new design and even a new engine.

So, in this article, I will share everything that the all-new X50 must offers, the good as well as the bad about the car.

Let’s start with the design of the car

One of the major talking points of the X50 during the launch was the design. It left fans and observers divided, some liked it and some don’t.

But that is usually the case with designs, it will never appeal to everyone and is always subjective.

The X50 though is not an original Proton design, it shares some of its styling with the Geely Binyue L, it’s Chinese cousin.

The front is all new and that large gape under the grille is one of the main points that has divided observers. I do have to agree that there’s too much open space there, but there’s nothing a body kit developed in Sunway cannot fix.

The lights too have been updated, new LED headlights replace the old projectors, while the three daytime running lights keeps it within the family as it looks similar to the ones on the S70.

Capping off the front is a uniquely Proton grille with the “ethereal bow” strip that Proton’s design team has been quite proud of, and for good reason. But I must ask the design team – what is up with those fake vents on the redesigned bonnet? It is 2025 already, fake vents belong in 1998.

The side profile is also new, with a seemingly longer A-pillar giving the car a more aggressive look. The side has also been split into two, particularly for the Flagship variant, which is what this review is based on.

For the Flagship model, the upper part of the side profile gets a black roof, while the bottom half offers a more pronounced shoulder line as well as black plastic body panels with what seems to be aerodynamic vents. It is uncertain if those vents play any purpose, but they do look good.

The rear is entirely new as well. I particularly like the taillights with LED light strip across the boot, and the rear also sports the one part that is not fake, the quad tailpipes.

Let’s move to the interior.

Despite its looks, this is the one part that is entirely Proton’s brainchild. I know what the looks suggest because every car that comes out of China seems to have one gigantic infotainment system, a small instrument cluster, and not much else.

So, while the design may not be all that original, but it is in line with Proton’s newer models such as the e.MAS 7 and the upcoming e.MAS 5 (yes, I have driven it and spent time with its interior), keeping it very much in the family.

I must mention though that it is much better than what the looks suggest. Quality feels top notch, ergonomics are spot on, and there are features in here which you will never find in more expensive cars that simply make a lot of sense on Malaysian roads.

This feature is the semi-transparent sun visor that helps keep glare to a minimum, something like the sunshades that pilots use in an aircraft cabin. This has been carried over from the Geely Binyue L, but still a very cool touch.

Back to the business ends of things – the infotainment system measures in at a gargantuan 14.6-inches with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. While that is nothing new, the Bahasa Melayu voice control system is a nice touch.

Proton says that it took them over 330,000 man hours to develop the voice command system, and just to ensure it works everywhere in Malaysia, it can understand four dialects, including the notoriously difficult Kelantanese dialect.

What I like about the interior is that it offers hard buttons for air-conditioning controls (though the on-screen adjustability is surprisingly easy even when driving), and the centre console has been freed of clutter because the gear selector has been moved to the steering column.

This simple update has allowed the engineers slash designers to incorporate things like cup holders, the aforementioned hard buttons for the a/c, and even twin phone holders with one Qi wireless charger.

Some netizens have remarked that the steering column shifter can be accidentally mistaken for the indicator stalk and thus shifting from Drive to Reverse. I have tried it; it does not work and the most that it goes to is Neutral.

Even then it can very easily shift back to Drive and there is no chance of the gearbox exploding as some have suggested.

But besides that, the interior remains largely the same. I appreciate the massive panoramic roof, the seats are also the same as before, which means a touch of softer padding would have made them more comfortable over long distances.

Spaciousness all around is as decent as before as is the boot space, which despite its generosity, houses a space saver spare wheel.

Let’s talk about the engine.

You could almost feel a collective sigh of relief from fans of the X50 when Proton announced that it was ditching the old three-cylinder engine for a four-cylinder unit.

Not like there was anything wrong with the old engine, it’s just that it sounded like a diesel engine, quivered oddly during start up and shut down, and was not very smooth at times.

The new engine solves all those supposed issues.

The 1.5-litre displacement is the same as before, and it is also turbocharged as well, and slightly more powerful with 181PS and 290Nm of torque. That’s 4PS and 35Nm more than before and allows a 0-100kmh time of 7.6 seconds.

Power is sent to the front wheels through the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

What is rather impressive is the fact that despite the engine gaining one extra cylinder, which in theory should make the engine thirstier since there is one extra mouth to feed. But the truth is quite the opposite, in fact fuel consumption is down by 4.7%.

The timing belt has also been swapped with a timing chain, which supposedly makes it more robust over the long term.

So, how does it drive then?

As you could probably imagine, it is a lot smoother than the previous model thanks to that one additional cylinder. I have never been a fan of three-cylinder engines as they always seem to be off balance and make an uninspiring rattle.

But not here, the X50 comes with four driving modes – Eco, Normal, Sport and a new Adaptive mode. The latter learns your driving style and adapts to it accordingly, I just left it in adaptive for most of my drive to Melaka and back.

The suspension is firm yet comfortable while refinement is surprisingly decent, until you hit upwards of 110km/h. After that point, you begin to hear some roar from the Continental tyres and some hints of the wind hitting the screen.

But that’s not a deal breaker, there are not many cars in this segment that remain quiet at that speed.

Once you get used to that, you will notice that the Proton X50 is more than happy to be cruising at about 140km/h and can manage it all day without taking a toll on you.

Adaptive cruise control with stop and go function is a nice touch as well and makes managing traffic a much simpler task.

The final verdict?

I don’t say this very often but the Proton X50 is one of the few cars that justifies a lateral move. If you own a previous generation X50 and want something new, the new X50 feels like a genuine trade up.

The new X50 can even make life difficult for the likes of the Honda HR-V, and with a price tag starting from RM89,800 all the way up to RM113,300, it feels like a true bargain considering everything you are getting.

It even comes with comprehensive list of active and passive safety systems including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). In fact, I am in awe of the fact that it comes with a feature called Door Opening Warning, you don’t usually get this feature in this price category, and I can only think of the Chery Tiggo Cross Hybrid to have the same system.

This warns you of oncoming obstacles when you want to open the door, so you don’t accidently hit a pedestrian, cyclist or worse, a motorcyclist.

At the current price tags (which is slightly cheaper than before), the new Proton X50 genuinely feels like a bargain.

Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 181PS @ 5500rpm
Torque: 290Nm @ 2000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed, dual-clutch
Price (as tested): RM113,300

We like: Interior feel, smooth new engine
We don’t like: Some plasticky design bits